Arlan |
Lightning |
Destruction |
4-Star |
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Guides |
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Best Light Cone |
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Arlan in Honkai: Star Rail is a Destruction character with unique mechanics that set him apart from other existing characters. Interestingly, his kit bears resemblance to Hu Tao from HoYoVerse's other successful title, Genshin Impact. Arlan's skills consume his HP to unleash powerful attacks, and most notably, his Talent grants him increased damage when his current HP is lower than his maximum HP.
Consequently, like Clara, Arlan also benefits to some extent from being attacked, and he can greatly benefit from having shielding characters that can sustain him even when his HP is low. Fortunately, players have access to a variety of light cone options of different rarities that synergize well with having lower HP, making them the best choices for Arlan compared to other Destruction light cones in Honkai: Star Rail.
5 Mutual Demise
- Base ATK (LVL 80): 370
- Base DEF (LVL 80): 198
- Base HP (LVL 80): 846
- Effect: If the wearer’s current HP is less than 80% of their Max HP, CRIT Rate increases by 10%/13%/16%/19%/21%.
While Mutual Demise is a 3-star light cone, it can work exceptionally well for Arlan due to its easy-to-activate effect, as Arlan's skill immediately depletes 15% of his HP. This light cone significantly increases his Crit Rate, allowing Arlan to land critical hits consistently. When max superimposed, this effect becomes even more pronounced, and obtaining multiple copies of this light cone is relatively easy due to its rarity. By having a solid base Crit Rate from this light cone, Arlan can prioritize other stats such as Crit DMG and ATK, resulting in a substantial increase in his overall damage output.
4 Nowhere to Run
- Base ATK (LVL 80): 529
- Base DEF (LVL 80): 264
- Base HP (LVL 80): 952
- Effect: Increases the wearer’s ATK by 20%/25%/30%/35%/40%. Whenever the wearer defeats an enemy, they restore HP equal to 12%/15%/18%/21%/24% of their ATK.
While Nowhere to Run may not perfectly synergize with Arlan's kit, it can still be beneficial in maintaining his HP at comfortable levels after defeating an enemy. Moreover, it provides an ATK boost that enhances his overall DPS. However, it is worth noting that Nowhere to Run is an exclusive Nameless Glory light cone, requiring real-life currency to obtain, making it inaccessible to strictly F2P players. It should be considered for Arlan only if players are uninterested in other Nameless Glory light cones or lack access to superior options, allowing them to save resources and optimize gameplay.
3 A Secret Vow
- Base ATK (LVL 80): 476
- Base DEF (LVL 80): 264
- Base HP (LVL 80): 1058
- Effect: Increases DMG dealt by the wearer by 20%/25%/30%/35%/40%. The wearer also deals an extra 20%/25%/30%/35%/40% of DMG to enemies with a higher HP percentage than the wearer.
Showcasing Arlan on its artwork, it is not surprising that A Secret Vow would synergize well with him, making it the best 4-star light cone option. This light cone offers an unconditional DMG increase with high scaling, which doubles when the enemies have more HP than Arlan. In the early turns, Arlan can benefit significantly from the DMG boost. However, as the enemy's HP drops below 50%, players may struggle to maintain the additional effect's buff while also keeping Arlan's HP at a comfortable level. Fortunately, with the assistance of a shielder or healer and access to his Eidolons, players can utilize this light cone even more effectively.
2 On the Fall of an Aeon
- Base ATK (LVL 80): 582
- Base DEF (LVL 80): 396
- Base HP (LVL 80): 1164
- Effect: Whenever the wearer attacks, increase their ATK by 8%/10%/12%/14%/16% in this battle, up to 4 time(s). When the wearer inflicts Weakness Break on enemies, the wearer’s DMG increases by 12%/15%/18%/21%/24% for 2 turn(s).
On the Fall of an Aeon is a 5-star light cone that is entirely F2P and can work well on Arlan. Although it doesn't perfectly align with his kit, it provides a well-rounded buff with increased ATK and potential DMG. It can be obtained and max superimposed through Herta's Store using Herta's Bonds obtained in the Simulated Universe. Players should consider this light cone, especially when using Arlan against enemies weak to Lightning, to maximize its value. However, if they have access to A Secret Vow, it can be a more versatile option even against enemies not particularly weak to lightning.
1 Something Irreplaceable
- Base ATK (LVL 80): 582
- Base DEF (LVL 80): 396
- Base HP (LVL 80): 1164
- Effect: Increases the wearer’s ATK by 20%/25%/30%/35%/40%. When the wearer defeats an enemy or is hit, immediately restores HP equal to 6%/7.5%/9%/10.5%/12% of the wearer’s ATK. At the same time, the wearer’s DMG increases by 20%/25%/30%/35%/40% until the end of their next turn. This effect cannot stack and can only trigger 1 time per turn.
Something Irreplaceable is Clara's 5-star signature light cone, which can also be effective on Arlan if players have access to it but not to Clara herself. This is because it provides an unconditional ATK buff, as well as HP restoration similar to Nowhere to Run, and DMG increase when Arlan defeats an enemy or gets hit. It could be argued that the consistent HP restoration might be perceived as a downside for Arlan, but since it's not a significantly high amount, it allows him to survive longer while still dealing damage, albeit potentially slightly less as his HP remains higher. However, the ATK and DMG buffs can compensate for this, and it also reduces the reliance on a strong healer, allowing for more focus on other support characters.
Honkai: Star Rail is now available on Android, iOS, and PC. A PlayStation version is in development.
